Tank car



J. P. MADDEN ET AL TANK CAR Filed Feb. 18, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet l Q cof im y N INVENTORS a ATTORNEY Feb. 28, 1928.

G", ATTORNEY TANK CAR ma* ja Iggy/ E.' WMI.

h 5 sets-she'et s NVENTORS lo.

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ATTORNEY Feb; 2s, 1928.

J. P. MADDEN ET AL Filed Feb. 18, 1924 Feb. 28, 1928. 1,661,000 J. P. MADDEN ET Al.

TANK GAR Filed Feb. 18, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENToRs BY mi.

ATTORN EY Feb. 28, 192s. 1,661,000

J. P. MADDEN vrs1' Ax.

, TANK CAR y Filed Feb. 18. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY VPatented Feb. 28,1928.

UNirEDA srA'ri-:s

JAMES i. mamma am) RALPH. n. wanna, kor hammam, rnnnsnvamn,

.. a assIeNoas ro BETHLEHEM srnnn conm..

TANK can.

s ArENroFFlcE.

appucatmn mea February 1s, 1924. anni xn. 693,601.

Our invention' relates to tank Lcars and tanks suitable for the transportation of iiuids under pressure. economically in this manner, it is desirable to reduce the volume as mucli as practicable;

and high pressures, therefore, necessarily exist in the tank or tanks. For example, the pressure may be about 2000 or 2500 pounds per squareinch. To withstand the high pressures, we provide tanks `of relatively small diameter 'compared' to thelr.

lengths.` Furthermore, each of our im- 'proved tanks is an integral forging, thereby providing a structure which is verystrong, as it is entirely seamless and one wh1ch per.

mits oi"- the best metallurgical treatments conducive .to strength?, '-Vlhile,` from the standpoint of design and. manufacture, a material capable of withstanding -high lnter.-

nal stresses results and while such. stressesl are kept relatively lower for va given 1n;`

A.tei-nal pressure by providinglon tanks^of -smaller diameter than 'ordinaril 'employed,.'

tbejstrength of such tanks is urth'er' conserved by a special type of car construction,

whereby none of the stresses" incident to' 'movement ofthe car are transmitted to the n tanks. Qur4 invention, therefore, has. for an mission of stresses to the tank ory tanks in-f' object. to provide, for tanks of this character, car structure which is suitably strong and rwhich is capable of so su porting the tanks that the latter are not su ]ected to stresses imposed on such structure.r

A further object of our invention is to provide a car having a longitudinally' rigid structure to resist stresses incident to movement of the car and supporting means'for the tanks'so related .to the'car that tra-nscident to movementof the car are avoided.

These and other objvects are accomplished by our invention as will be apparentl from a consideration of the drawings, the ollowingdescription, and the appended claims.

Apparatus made in accordance with our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of our application, in. which:

Figure 1 `is a view partly in side elevation .tank car construction; Y Figure 2 vis a detail view showing one of Figure 3 is .an end elevation of our improved car structure; Figure 4 is a view similar toFig. 3 andi wlth certain parts removed and with the lower center sill structure shown in section;

Figure 5 is a section along the line V-V Vof Fig. 6;

Figure 6 risa section along theline VI- upperA and lower tanks, Fig. 10 being a secf tional l View along the line X-.-. X of Fig. 9.; Figures 1-1 and 12 are end and si'de elevations,t respectively, of our improved tank;

Figures 13 and 14gare. detail sectional views ofl closures for the tank ends, sections of the tank being in elevation Figure l15 is a4 detail viewof ay safety valve structure; and, l

yoke member.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a better understanding of our invention, we show a car having a bottom structure, 'at 10,-which supports two-point suspension de- .the body holsters and a portion of the center A i sill structure; To transport gases' 9 and 10 are detail views of a I Figure 16 is a detail'view of an :upper vices, at 11, adjacent to each end of the car; r

the suspension devices supporting the -ends of tanks 12.. The bottom structure, at 10, is made sufficiently strong to resist draw stresses ofthe car, whereby such stresses are# prevented from transmission to the taks 12. Also, the two-point suspension for each tank assures .that the car may Vadjust itself to the track without imposing stresses on the tanks. c 4

The tanks shown in Figs. 11 and 12, each consist of a cylindricalportion 13, taperivrg end portions 14, and neck portions 15. e preferably have four tanks on a car, an upper pair, at16, and a lower pair, at 17. Each tank has a ,two-point support with respect to the car and they are'supported b The two-point lsupp'ortfor ,the tanks of the lowerpair 17 is'composed of body bolsters 18 having saddle portions 'or seats 1 9 10o' 'structure which will now .be described. i and partly in section showing our improved "y pair through the intermediary of spacing members 19 fitting the contours of the tanks.

The tanks are heldin place longitudinally if the car vby upper and lower yoke members 2() and 21, which engage around the neck portions t of the tanks, the yoke members being connected to 'column structures 22 near each end of the car. Each upper yoke member 21 vhas a vertical slip joint connection comprised bya vertical boss 23 carried by a lower yoke member fitting a socket 24 in an upper yoke member. The slip joint permits of the' necessary vertical adjustment in assembly and itserves to transmit lateral thrusts of' the upper pair of tanks lto the lower`.tanks and from the latter to the saddle portions of the holsters.

To the end of providing a rigid car structure which shall absorb draw stresses without transmitting` the latter tov or through the tanksfwe provide a strong built-up center sill 25 which is connected to intermediate portions ofthe body holsters. The column structures 22 are secured to the body holsters at intermediate portions of the 'latter and to the center s'ill, the column structures being braced in a direction longitudinal of the car by the members 26 and 2T. Not only do the column structures 22 provide supports which are 'rigid longitudinally of the car and to which terminal portions of the tankslare connected in the manner already' set forth, but

also such columns serve,` as hereinafter ointed out, to Vbrace the holsters with respect to the center sill.

The holsters, in addition to the saddle portions 19, have lower openings 28 which fit around the box-like structure of the center sill 25 and at their upper sides, between the saddle portions,.they 'are provided ywith upwardly-extending projections 28 for a purpose to be described.

The center sill' is comprised by sideplates 29, a top plate 30 and a bottom plate 31 connected by angles 32 riveted thereto.

Each column structure 22 is comprised by relatively wide plates 33 connected by chanynels 34 and 35, the channel 34 being secured to the plates. 33 at one side of the latter and the other channel 35 being connected to interi mediate portions of the plates, thereby delining column portions 36 which fit over the bolster projections 28 aforesaid and are riveted thereto. The portions 37 of the plates projecting beyond the channels 35 are connected tothe center sill top plate 30 by angles 38 riveted both to the plate-portions and to the top plate. diagonal members 26 and 27 are riveted to the inwardly-projecting` plate portions 37;

The oke members 20 and 21 are connected medial y t0 the column structures 22 by The hereinbefore mentioned means of vertical series of rods 40,- which pass through openings in the yoke members and through openings'in the channel members 34 and 35 .of the column structures 22. As shown, thetanks 12 are longer than the distance between outer sides of the column structures 22 so that the rods 4() project outwardly from the column structures. The nuts ll on the rods are. preferably adjusted so as to provide for play between theheads 42 and nuts and the yoke and column structures and the openings for the rods are pret'- erably larger than the rods, all for purposes hereinafter stated. In operation. theincrtia of the tanks 12. due to chan-ges in car velocity, is taken up 1n tension in the rods 40.

Each tank is provided with covers l?) andI 44, for the ends, the covers having' packed annular tongue-and-groove joints' 15 with respect to the tanks to obtain a good grastight fit. The cover 43 is provided with pressure safety devices 4G and the cover eti is provided with a valve 47, whereby a tank may be filled and emptied.

The safety devices comprise preferably shearable disk members 4S adapted to tit against shoulders/19 of counter-sunk openings 50 in the. cover43. thehdisks beinfr` clamped against the shoulders by threaded follower members or plugs 51. The plugs 5l and covers 43 have channels 52 therein to permit `as to escape when the disk members are sheared incident t'o over-pressure. In

this way, the tanks are .protected against. i

possible rupture.

The spacing members 19' are preferably comprised by curved channel 'portions 53 which are connected by side plates 54. as shown in Figs. 8. 9 and 10` a spacinii block 55 being preferably arranged between the channel members to give the spacing member strength in compression.

The tanks are. preferably made from in- 'gots which are bored. forged. machined. and given the proper heat treatment in order to produce a unitary seamless tank capable of withstanding high pressures.

From the structure described. it will be apparent that we have provided a car structure which is relatively rigid in ,a loneitudinal direction, such structure consisting prunarlly of a. center sill 25 having its terminal portions secured to intermediate portions of the end or body holsters 13j The holsters arel provided. at either side of tht` center sill 25. with saddles or seats` 19 forl tanks which are arranged to span the space between the holsters and to extend therebevond. The car structures is reinforced in a longitudinal direction by the columns 22 `and the diagonal braces 26 and 2, although these column members and the braces vfunecured. This type of car structure is, therel F50 ically set fo fore, nite rigid in a longitudinal direction, where y longitudinal stresses imposed upon the car .-in service are absorbed and are not A transmitted to the tanks, while, at the same 6 time, such structure is capableA of weaving or twistingto accommodate itself to a track; and, since each of the tanks is supported onlyat two pointsv and since the tanks are iiexibly connected transversely to the -car l structure, the tanks are readily accom modated to such structure, even though the latter weaves or twists sli htly in accommodating itself to a track, without, on that ac,- count, having stresses imposed thereon.

The tanks 12 span or brid e the space between 1and are supported by t e bolsters, and the upper tanks being supported by the lower tanks. Lateral forces on the upper pair of tanks, at "16, are transmitted therefrom i through the yoke members 21, from the latter by the joint members 24 and 23 to tho' lower yoke 20, and from the lower yoke 20 through the lower pair of tanks, at 17, tothe bolsters 18. The mounting of the rods 40 with respect to column structures 22 and the yoke members 20 and 21, as well as the inherent flexibility of such rods, permits of the car weaving or yielding^transversely without transmitting any transverse stresses due 3 thereto to the tanks. Inertia of the tanks incident to velocity ofa car is taken'up in tension by the rods 40. Hence, We-have pro- Avided. a tank car which is so constructed that the tanks are subjected only to forces due to i the gas pressure, to the inertial thereof, and

to their weight, all other forces being either absorbed by the car structure or not being transmittedto the tanks owing to the capability of relative adjustment or accommodation of the tanks with respect to the car structure as alread pointed out. Y

While we have 's own our invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is sus- 46 C.ceptible of various other-changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and we desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placedthereupon as areimposed b thea7 rior art or as are specifrth in tlie appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what we claim as new and ldesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

I `1. In a tank car, the combination of tank supporting members extending transversely of the car, tanks disposed longitudinally of the car and carried by the supporting memy bers, a' rigid construction disposed centrally and longitudinally of the car and connected W. to oentraliportions ofthe supporting members, and means connected to said construction and cooperating with end portions: of.

the tanks for holding the latter in place relatively to the car.

55 2. In a tank car, the combination oiga center sill, body bolsters having their inter- `mediate portions ri idly connected to termirial portions of te center sill and each having concave, tank-supporting portions at each side of the center sill, and a plurality.

y of tanks spanning the space between bolsters and fitting said .concave supporting portions. 3. In a tank car, the combination of body holsters, single means for connectin the body holsters consisting of a center sil and tanks supported on the bolsters at each side of the center sill and spanning the space between holsters.

4.'. In a tank car, the combination of bod bolsters, single means for cnnectin'g'the bo sters consisting of a center sill, superposed tanks supported by the holsters with the.'

lower tanks thereof restingl on the holsters at either side of thecenter sill and all of said tanks spanning the space between bolstersa/ 5. In a tank car, the combination of a pair of bolsters, longitudinally rigid car structure connected to the bolsters, a plurality of tanks supported by the bolsters, yokes connected to the ends of the tanks, said yokes being spaced from-the rigid structure, and rods forv connecting` the yokes to. said structure.

7 In a tank car, the combination of bol! sters, a vertically-dis osed structure extending longitudinally o the car and connected to intermediate points of the bolsters, .said

.structure being braced longitudinally, a plurality of tanks supported by' the holsters, and

means or`connecting the ends of the tanks` to the structure.

8. In a tank car, the combinationl of bolsters, a vertically-disposed structure extendf ing longitudinally of the car and -connected to intermediate points ofthe bolsters, said structure being braced longitudinally, a plurality of tanks supported by the bolsters,`

and means capable of lateral deflection for connecting the ends of the tanks to said structure. y

9. In a tank car, the combination ofbolsters, a vertically-disposed structure extending longitudinally of the car and connected 6.In 4a tank car, othe combination of uio to intermediate points of the holsters, said v structure being braced longitudinally, a. plurality ot otanks of greater length than the structure and supported by the holsters, yokes connnected to the tank ends, and rods for connecting the yokes to said structure.,

10. In a tank car, the combination of bolsters, a vertically-disposed structure extend- I ing longitudinally of the car and connected supported by the holsters at opposite sides lof said structure, yokes connected to pairs of tanks at tlie ends thereof, and means for connecting tlie yokes to said structure.

11. Iii a tank car, tlie coinhination of bolsters, an upwardly-extending structure arranged longitudinally of tlie car and connected to-iiitcrinediate points of tlie bolsters, said structure being braced longitudinally, aplurality of pairs of tanks supported by the holsters, eacli pair of tanks consisting of tanks onl opposite sides of said structure, yokes connected to tlie ends ot pairs of tanks. at eacli end of tlie latter, means for connect.- ing the yokes to said structure, and means for connecting an upper yoke, to a lower yoke to resist lateral displacement of the former with respect to the latter.

1Q. In a tank car, t-lie combination of bol-v sters, a structure rigid longitudinally of tlic car and connected to intermediate points ot the holsters. a plurality of pairs ot' tanks supported by the holsters, eacli pair of tanks consisting of tanks on opposite sides of said structure, yokes connected to ends' of pairs of tanks at each end of tlie latter, rods' for connecting tl'ie yokes to\ said structure, and means for connecting an upper yoke to a lower yoke to resist lateral displacement. of the former with respect to tlie latter. 13. In a tank car, the combination of holsters, a structure rigid longitudinally of tlie car and connected to intermediate points ofl tlie holsters, a"plurality of pairs of tanks supported by the holsters, each pair-of tanks consisting of tanks on opposite sides of said structure, spacing members between upper and lower superposed tanks, yokes connected to en'ds of pairs of tanks at eacli end of tlie latter, means for connecting tlie vokes to said structure, and means for connecting an upper yoke to a lower yoke'to resist lateralv displacement of the forme-r with respect to the latter.

14. In a railway tank car` the combination of holsters, a structure rigid longitudinally of the car and connected to intermediate points of the holsters, a plurality of superposed tanks at each/side of thestructure,

said holsters havingconcave seats to receive tlie bottom tanks', separators for interposition between superposed tanks having downwardly directed concave seats to fit the top ,of a lower tank and upwardly 'directed c oiicave seats to fit the bottom of an upper tank, and means for connecting the ends of the tanks to said st-ructui'e..

15. In a railway tank car, the combination of holsters, a structure rigid longitudinally the bottom tanks, separators between upper and lower superposed tanks, okes connected to tlie ends of the tanks, an longitudinally rigid and`laterally deflectahle means for connecting t-lie yokes to said structure.

16. In a. railway tank car, the combination of holsters, a structure rigid longitudinally of tlie car and connected to intermediate points of tlie holsters, a plurality of superposed tanks at each side of the` structure, said holsters having concave seats to receive tlie bottom tanks, separators for the super-4 posed tan is having seats to fit the top of a vlower tank and the bottom of an upper- -tankl` yokes for connecting tlie ends of the lower tanks, yokes for connecting the ends of, upper tanks, meansffor resisting relativedisplacement of the yokes at each end of the car, and means for connecting the yokes to saidstruct-ure.

17. In a railway tank car, the combination of holsters, a structure rigid longitudinally of the car and connectet to intermediate points of tbe holsters, a plurality of tanks extending longitudinally ofthe car and supported bv tbe holsters, each of said tanks being reduced at its ends to provide neck p ortions-` yokes fitting aboutsaid neck portions, and means for connectingl the yokes,

to said structure.

18. In a railway tank car, the' combination 0l holsteis,\a. structure lrigid longitudinally of the Aca-r and connected' to intermediate points of tbe holstersfa plurality of tanks extending longitudinally of the cai' and supported by tlie holsters, said tanks each being longer tlian said structure and each being reduced at its ends to provide neck portions,

yoke members fitting about the neck portions, and longitudinally rigid but laterally deflectable means for connecting the yokes to said structure.l

19. In a railway tank car, the combination of holsters, a structure rigid longitudinally of the car and connected to intermediate points of the holsters, a. plurality of tanks supported by the holsters, said-tanks being longer than said structure and `having their ends reduced toprovide neck portions, yoke members fitting about the neck portions, and rods for connecting the yoke members to said structure.

20. In a railway tank car, the combination of holsters, a. structure rigid'longitudinally of the car and connected to intermediate points of fthe holsters, a plurality of tanks supported by the holsters, each of said tanks being reduced at its ends to provide neck portions, yoke members extending transversely of the car for fitti-n neck portions of tanks at opposite sides o said structure, and rods for connecting tlie yoke members to said structure.

to the holsters, column members connected to the holsters and to the center sill, a plurality of tanks extending longitudinally of the car, supported by the holsters, and disposed on opposite sides of the column members, and means for connecting the ends of the tanks to the colulnn members.

22. In a railway tank car, the combination l of a pair of'bolsters, a. center sill connected to the holsters, column members connected to the holsters and extending upwardly therefrom, means for bracing the column mem.- bers longitudinally of the car, tanks supported hy the holsters and 'disposed on opposite sides of the colunin members, and means for connecting the ends of the tanks to the column members.

23. In a railway tankcar, the combination of a pair of holsters, acenter-sill connected to the holsters, cent-rally disposed column members extending` above the holsters, tanks supported by the holsters and .arranged on oppositesides of the column members, each bers, a plurality of tanks seated in said saddles, .tanks arranged above-the first tanks, separators between the tanks and having 'seats to fit the contours thereof,- each of sai u tanks beingreduced at its ends to provide neck portions, transverse yoke members secured to neck portions oftanks on opposite sides of said'column members, means to resist relative displacement of. upper ,and lower yoke members, and rods for connecting the yoke members to the column members.

25. I n a railway tank'car, they combination of a pair of holsters, a center sill connected to the holsters, a column structure connected to a bolster and to the center. sill at each end of the car, the column structure consistinr lof relatively wide lateral .plates spaced and connected by relatively narrowerplates, the

wide plates extending longitudinally of the car, said holsters having concave seats at opposite sides of said column structuresg tanks fitting in said seats, each of the tanks being reduced at its ends to provide neck portions, yoke members secured to the neck portions of tanks at opposite sides of said column. structures, rods passing through the yoke members. and through the narrower plate members of said column structures, and nuts fitting they ends of said rod members, whereby the tanks may be connected with respect to the column members.

26. In a. railway tank car, the combination of a pair of holsters, a center sillconnected tothe holsters, column structures secured to the holsters and to the ycenter sills, each of said column structures consisting of relatively wide plate members disposed longitudinally of the car and relatively narrower transverse plate members connecting the wide plate members, cross braces connected to the wide plate members of the column structures at each yend of the c ar, said bolsters having concave seats at opposite sides 'of the column structures, tanks fitting the seats, tanks arranged above the first tanks,

separators between superposed tanks and having seats to fitthe contours of the latter, each ofsaid tanks being reduced at its ends to provide neck portions, transverse yoke members fitting the neck portions of pairs of tanks arranged at opposite sides of said column structures, means for preventing relative lateral displacement of an upper yoke member with respect to a lower yoke member, and rods extending through thel .yoke members andthrough the narrower plate members of said column structures, whereby inertia of the tanks due to change in car velocity is transmitted to and through the yokes and from the latter through the rods to the column structures.` i

v27. In a tank car construction, the combination of a pair of body jholsters,` a pair of lower tanksextending longitudinally of the car construction and resting on the body holsters, an upper tank extendinor longitudinally of the car construction, cradle devices arranged between the up er tank and the lower tanks and dispose `vertically above the holsters, and means for holdlng they lower tanks in place with respect to the holsters and for holding the upper tank in place with respect to the cradle devices.

In testimony whereof we hereunto afiix our signatures this 16th day of February, 1924.

' JAMES P. MADDEN.

RALPH 4E. WILDER. 

